Everton

Tim Howard

Leighton Baines

Johnny Heitinga

Phil Jagielka

Sylvain Distin

Mikel Arteta (Joseph Yobo, 90)

Tim Cahill

Phil Neville

Steven Pienaar

Leon Osman

Louis Saha (Jack Rodwell, 72)

Match Report

Manchester City blew the chance to move into fourth place in the table after Everton's 2-0 win at Eastlands inflicted a first home Premier League defeat of the season on Roberto Mancini's side.
It proved a frustrating night at Eastlands for City as Everton triumphed to keep alive their hopes of pinching a place in the Europa League.
Goals from Tom Cahill and Mikel Arteta moved Everton to within three points of their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool as they continue their end-of-season charge up the table.
And the defeat heaps further pressure on Mancini to deliver a top-four finish to qualify for Europe's top club competition.
After a low-key opening, City began to take control putting the Everton defence under intense pressure.
Everton were indebted to Tim Howard who made two important saves in the opening 25 minutes to keep City at bay.
First he stretched to catch Micah Richards' header under the crossbar and then he dived bravely at the feet of Carlos Tevez as the visitors were in danger of being overwhelmed.
Then, completely against the run of play, Everton stole ahead in the 33rd minute when Cahill glanced home a header from a Leighton Baines cross which followed a short free-kick by Arteta.
Everton had two great chances to double their lead early in the second half but Leon Osman's shot was deflected by defender Vincent Kompany for a corner and then Cahill's chip flew agonisingly wide.
City threw on Roque Santa Cruz and Patrick Vieira in the second half but they were unable to transform the home side's fortunes as Everton defended resolutely to hold on to their lead.
Everton sealed victory five minutes from time when substitute Jack Rodwell made a terrific break down the right.
Cahill stepped over his low cross and Arteta fired low past keeper Shay Given for his fourth goal of the season.
Mancini's frustration boiled over in stoppage time when he and Everton manager David Moyes were both sent to the stands following a bust up in the technical area.

Live Text Commentary

Full time

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

Full time

FULL TIME: MAN CITY 0 - 2 EVERTON: An efficient second-half performance sees Everton leave Manchester with three well-earned points and a serious dent in City's hopes of Champions League football.

Full time

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

90

An incident on the touchline as Mancini collides with Moyes in an attempt to collect the loose ball. The managers square up and are sent to the stands by the ref!

90

Substitution

Mikel Arteta is replaced by Joseph Yobo.

89

Zabaleta gets a half chance but he makes a mess of his volley from inside the box and fails to work Howard.

89

The ball drops to Wright-Phillips but his shot deflects wide of the mark.

88

The home fans are pouring out the exits now as Everton continue to defend with ease and fend off any City attacks.

86

The hosts have failed to build on any momentum gained in this match and despite enjoying spells of pressure they have not had many clear cut opportunities.

84

Goal

MAN CITY 0 - 2 EVERTON: Great play by Rodwell down the right flank. His ball into the box is dummied by Cahill and ARTETA side-foots a shot home. A great counter from Everton and the game is arguably beyond doubt now.

82

Howard rises above everyone to palm a Bellamy corner away to safety. The keeper lands awkwardly clutching his back and play stops for him to receive treatment.

80

Kompany plays through Santa Cruz who curls his shot from the edge of the box high and wide of the target.

77

Heitinga's speculative 30-yard effort takes a wicked deflection and Given breathes a sigh of relief as it bounces behind for a corner.

75

Disappointment for City as the big players stride forward for a free-kick which Barry sends straight out for a goal-kick.

75

Substitution

Man City are replacing Micah Richards with Patrick Vieira.

73

City reach the byline again and Bellamy this time looks for a team-mate in the box but Jagielka is first to the ball yet again to clear the danger for his side.

72

Substitution

Everton are replacing Louis Saha with Jack Rodwell.

70

Tevez turns his marker in the box and Howard rushes off his line to smother the opportunity.

68

City are bombarding Everton with crosses since the arrival of Santa Cruz but the visitors are holding firm and winning every header.

67

Much more promising stuff from City now as Toure goes on a nosebleed run and looks for Tevez in the box. Everton clear their lines but they are under plenty of pressure at the moment.

66

City put together their best move of the second-half as Tevez lets a cross run through to Wright-Phillips who blasts a volley over the bar.

64

Richards slices an ambitious shot wide of the mark from 25-yards, much to the frustration of his team-mates who had made runs into decent positions.

63

Tevez lines up a free-kick 25-yards from goal but it is a tame effort in the end and Howard comfortably collects the ball.

61

Wright-Phillips tries to inject some pace into the game as he runs onto a 70-yard quick goal-kick but the ball bounces out for a throw-in.

60

Yellow Card

Nigel de Jong is booked for unsporting behaviour.

59

City are 13 games unbeaten on their home turf but that run looks in danger of coming to an end tonight with Mancini's side unable to match Everton since the break.

57

Substitution

Adam Johnson is replaced by Roque Santa Cruz.

54

Cahill comes desperately close to doubling his tally as he spots Given off his line and lifts an audacious chip over his head and past the post.

52

Arteta receives plenty of space outside the City box and does not make the most of the opportunity as his left-footed strike sails down the throat of Given.

51

A poor decision from the assistant prevents a City attack as Adam Johnson plays a cross into the path of Tevez but is dubiously ruled offside.

49

Osman almost makes it two for Everton as he bends a 20-yard strike inches wide of the far post. A close shave for Mancini's City.

48

Tevez looks like he is through on goal but Jagielka gets his body between the player and the ball. He knocks the ball back to his keeper and Tevez appeals for handball but the referee waves play on.

Second half

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 2.

46

Bellamy swings an early corner into the mixer and Jagielka heads the ball away to safety.

Second half

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 1.

Half time

HALF TIME: MAN CITY 0 - 1 EVERTON: The game reaches boiling point as the referee brings the first-half to a close. It looks set to be an open second-half but Roberto Mancini has plenty to do in his half-time team-talk.

45

Yellow Card

Shay Given is booked for dissent.

Half time

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

45

It is Arteta who strikes the free-kick but he cannot catch City out this time and fires his shot straight into the wall.

45

Vincent Kompany concedes a free-kick an a very dangerous position and is certainly in Arteta territory.

44

Yellow Card

Pienaar is cautioned for a rash challenge on Richards.

43

The hosts are beginning to look frustrated now as Tevez fails to break through the Everton defence.

41

Substitution

Stephen Ireland is being taken off, Shaun Wright-Phillips has come on in his place.

38

There is some movement on the touchline as Roberto Mancini prepares his first sub of the game with Stephen Ireland moving rather gingerly.

36

Everton have their tails up now and Louis Saha picks up the ball inside the box but cannot work an opportunity as his pass to the edge of the box rolls through to a City shirt.

34

Cahill has stunned the City of Manchester Stadium with that goal though it has to be said that it came slightly against the run of play.

32

Goal

MAN CITY 0 - 1 EVERTON: A training ground free-kick from the visitors results in a goal. Mikel Arteta rolls the set-piece to Baines on the edge of the box and his cross is headed in by CAHILL.

30

Yellow Card

Johnny Heitinga is booked for unsporting behaviour.

29

Everton take the ball up the other end and Cahill sends a left-footed effort over the bar for a goal-kick, though it did seem to take a deflection off Toure.

28

City are piling the pressure on now and Roberto Mancini will want his side to capitalise on the momentum.

27

Tevez superbly turns Distin inside out in the box but delays the shot and eventually runs into trouble.

26

Craig Bellamy gets a sight of goal on the edge of the box but fails to work Howard, firing his low shot straight into the body of the keeper.

25

Tevez has come to life now and almost beats Howard to a Richards cross which is just too high for the little Argentinian.

23

Stephen Ireland lifts a beautifully weighted pass over the Everton defence and into the path of Tevez who is through on goal. Howard is sluggish off his line but gets there eventually to knock the ball away from the feet of the onrushing Tevez.

20

Richards is in another attacking position now and swings a cross into the area finding Gareth Barry whose header does not trouble Howard.

18

Richards appears to have picked up a blow below his eye in the aerial challenge for the header but is back on his feet now and play resumes.

17

Pablo Zabaleta lifts a cross into the centre and Micah Richards forces a decent save out of Tim Howard with a powered header.

15

A half chance for Everton as Tim Cahill cushions a header down to Leon Osman who spoons a half-volley over the bar from 20-yards.

12

Toure breaks into the Everton box and chases down a long ball but Sylvain Distin defends it well and shadows the ball out for a goal-kick.

10

The booking was perhaps slightly harsh on Tevez and may now affect his bulldog-like approach to the game.

9

Yellow Card

Carlos Tevez picks up an early booking following a collision with Phil Jagielka.

7

Baines moves forward down the left flank and searches out a team-mate in the box but his cross is cleared by Kolo Toure.

5

There is a break in play as Steven Pienaar receives treatment for an injury. City are still trying to find their feet in the tie.

3

The visitors win an early corner which is taken short by Leighton Baines and comes to nothing.

2

Both sides look up for this one and Everton begin comfortably with a decent spell of possession.

Kickoff

It's 7:45pm on Wednesday, March 24th, the match has kicked off.

Kickoff

Referee Peter Walton gets the game underway.

Awaiting Kickoff

There are two changes to the Everton side that beat Bolton last time out as Louis Saha comes in for Yakubu and Leon Osman replaces the injured Victor Anichebe.

Awaiting Kickoff

Micah Richards comes in at right back for Roberto Mancini with Pablo Zabaleta moving to the left. Nigel De Jong and Stephen Ireland also return to the starting line-up with Patrick Vieira and Roque Santa Cruz dropping to the bench.

Awaiting Kickoff

The hosts can go 4th with a win this evening but Joleon Lescott misses the chance to face his former club after picking up an injury which sees Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure continue at the heart of Man City's defence.